Rival Groups Move Close to Congo Accord

Rival delegations took key steps toward ending Congo’s 11-month civil war Friday, agreeing to form a unified army and to give rebels temporary control over parts of the eastern Congo, a rebel official said.

In talks following a three-day break for consultations, rebel and government representatives also decided to hold a “national dialogue” on the country’s political situation, rebel leader Bizima Karaha said in a telephone interview.

He said the opposing sides would integrate their fighters into a single, unified army, but did not provide details on how or when that would be carried out.

“This is a big step forward,” Karaha said.

“Everything has now been finalized,” Zambian Presidential Affairs Minister Eric Silwamba said. “The Congolese have agreed among themselves and will be meeting [today] to adopt their report and announce a cease-fire date.”

Karaha also said that the rebels will retain control of the areas they hold in eastern Congo until after the national dialogue has taken place.

Friday’s meeting followed a three-day break for private consultations over a 17-page peace plan, which aims to set a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops, the military integration of Congolese and rebel forces and methods of restoring civil administration.

The rebels, backed by Rwanda and Uganda, have swept through the eastern third of Congo--formerly Zaire--since they took up arms 11 months ago, accusing Congo President Laurent Kabila of mismanagement, corruption and warmongering. Kabila’s counteroffensive is boosted by troops and arms from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Chad.

In Geneva on Friday, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for refugees said humanitarian groups were struggling to accommodate thousands of people fleeing fresh fighting.

The war has displaced at least 500,000 people internally and driven some 200,000 refugees from the country, the U.N. estimates.